In the last Elegy of the same Book he refers to the story of the young Vestal virgin, who, when the flame was extinguished upon the altar committed to her care, and when the scourge appeared to await her for her neglect, threw upon the ashes a fillet of muslin from her head, and saved her life by its ignition, which was supposed to be effected by the favor of the goddess: Vel cui, commissos cum Vesta reposceret ignes, Exhibuit vivos carbasus alba focos. The fire had died, and Vesta urged her claim, When the white cotton show’d a living flame. The story is related by Valerius Maximus (i. 7.). Although we are not informed of the date of the event, it appears from his language that the fillet was of fine muslin: “Cum _carbasum, quam optimum habebat_, foculo imposuisset, subito ignis emicuit.” This description is well suited to the nature of cotton, than which nothing was more easily ignited. The passage in Virgil’s Georgics, which mentions cotton, has been already quoted (See Part I. chapter II. p. 24.). By the Æthiopians, whose groves were “white with soft wool,” he probably intended those of Arabia; and we may suppose him to have referred to accounts, not so much of the Gossypium Herbaceum, to which the word “groves” (_nemora_) would not apply, as to groves of Gossypium Arboreum and Bombyx Ceiba. In the following passages of Æneid he mentions cotton under its proper name, though probably not intending to distinguish accurately between cotton and linen, and only using the term for the sake of ornament:-- Jamque dies, alterque dies processit, et auræ Vela vocunt, tumidoque inflatur carbasus austro. iii. 356. Two days were past, and now the southern gales Call us aboard, and stretch the swelling sails. _Pitt’s Translation._ Vocat jam carbasus auras; Puppibus et læti nautæ imposuere coronas. iv. 417. The flapping sail invites the gales; the poops By the glad seamen are already crown’d. Eum (_fluvium Tiberim_) tenuis glauco velabat amictu Carbasus, et crines umbrosa tegebat arundo. viii. 33. Thin muslin veils him with its sea-green folds; His head a copious shade of reeds sustains. Tum croceam chlamydem, sinusque crepantes Carbaseos fulvo in nodum collegerat auro. xi. 775. His saffron chlamys, and each rustling fold Of muslin was confined with glittering gold. This last passage is part of the description of the attire of Chloreus, the Phrygian, whose muslin chlamys may have rustled in consequence of being interwoven with gold. OVID. Totaque malo Carbasa deducit, venientesque excipit auras.--_Met._ xi. 477. The active seamen now unfurl the sails, And spread them wide to catch the coming gales. Carbasa mota sonant, jubet uti navita ventis. xiii. 420. The flapping sails resound; the captain bids advance. Cum dabit aura viam, præbebis carbasa ventis.--_Epist._ vii. 171.